Wire straightening and cutting machine



4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

E. BCKERSON.

Y WIRE STRAIGHTENING AND GUTTINGMA'GHINE.

Pateglted Se ...mr nur.. .nl uw. N N` E /5IN (No Model.) Y 4 sheets-I-sheen.

- H. EGKERSON.

WIRE STRAGHTENNG AND CUTTING MACHINE. w No. 437,413. Patent@ Spt. so, 1890.v

f/f. /gwml @qw (No Model.) .4 sheetssheet 3. H. ECKERSN. WIRE STRAIGHTENING AND CUTTING MACHINE.. N0. 437,413.

Patented SeptQS'O, 1890.

(No Model.)

` 4 sheetsfsneet 4.

H. ECKERSON. WIRE STRAIGHTBNING AND GUTTINGMAGHINE. No. 437,413. Patented. Sept. 30, 1890.

f UNITED STATE-s PATENT- OFFICE.

OMER ECKERSON, OF SCHENEVUS, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO I C. H. GRAHAM, OF SAME PLACE.

WIRE STRAIGHTENING AND CUTTING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 437,413, dated September 30, 1890.

Application led July 17, 1890. Serial No. 359,008. (No model.)

To all whom t may concern.-

Be it known that I, HoMER EoKERsoN, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Schenevus, in the county of Otsego and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvemen ts in Machin es for Straightening and Cutting Wire; and I do declare the following to be afull, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

r 5 The object of this invention is to construct a machine by which wire can be straightened rapidly and successfully and be cut off into pieces of any desired length; and this invention consists of several pairs of grooved rolls, one set forming the feed-rolls, a second set the delivery, and a third set the cutting-off rolls. These rolls are driven at the same rate of speed ,but the delivery-rolls, having a larger cross-section, will have a greater peripheral 2 5 speed than the feed-rolls, and in consequence thereof a pulling strain will be exerted on that part of the wire passing from one set to the other, tending to straighten the same.

The invention has also for its object the construction of the cutting-off rolls and the mechanism whereby they are operated and adjusted.

' The invention further relates to the novel construction, arrangement, and combinationv of parts, as will be hereinafter fully set forth, pointed out in the claims hereto appended, and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference designate correspending parts, Figure l is a side elevation of a wire straightening and cutting device embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the main portions of the same. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation showing the delivery-rolls. Fig. 4L is a front elevation of the cutting-off rolls, showing the upper roll grooved for the reception of the knife and the retaining-wedge. Fig. 5 is an end elevation 5o of the same. Fig. 6 is a detail perspective view of the knife and the retaining-wedge. Fig. 7 is a partial detail sideelevation showing the reverse of Fig. 1. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of the standards forming the housing for the delivery and cuttingoi rolls. l is a detail perspective view of one of the journal-boxes which form bearings for the upper rolls of each set. Fig. l0 is a plan View of the mechanism for operating the cuttingoff rolls. Fig. 1l is a side elevation of the 6o same, showing several of the gears in section.

Referring to the drawings by letter, A designates the bed-plate of suitableoutlne, supported upon the frame Bin any suitable manner. Near the front end of the bed-plate is adj ustably secured the housing C of the feedrolls D. The adjustment of this housing is accomplished by means of the long screw E, provided with a hand-wheel F, journaled in the frame B, so as to be immovable longitudi- 7o nally, and which engages with a lug Z, projecting from the under side of the housing and threaded for its reception. The housing moves on guides formed in the bed-plate.

D and D are, respectively, the upper and lower of each pair of rolls, and consist of two iron cylinders of suitable diameters, and are provided with four or more grooves I, which when brought in juxtaposition form gages which may be of various diameters adapted 30 to the different sizes of wire to be straightened. The rolls of eachpair are sustained in Vertical alignment in the housing @which consists of vertical standards J, secured to a common base. The lower parts of the spaces formed between the standards are for the journals of the lower rolls. In the sides of the standards above these bearings is formed the offsets P, on which are seated the plates Q.

In the upper part of the spaces between the standards are secured the vertically-adj ustable j ournal-boxes Kjwhioh are provided with flanges L, forming a guide or Way for the standards. Cross-pieces M are secured to the tops of the standards in any suitable manner.

Set-screws N are provided, which pass through the cross-pieces and impinge on the j ournal-boxes K .and serve to regulate the force with which the rolls will grip the wire passing between them. Between the journall Fig. 9 55 to keep the rolls in their proper relative p0- sitions so that the grooves I will always register with each other. 4This construction is not shown, however, in the drawings, as it would not be necessary in a well-made machine.

On the bed-plate back of the housing for the feed-rolls is permanently secured the housing for the delivery and cutting-off rolls in bearings of the same construction in every respect as those of the feed-rolls. The housing is also similar to that of the feed-rolls, with the exception that it carries one more set of rolls. The delivery-rolls have a somewhat larger diameter than the feed rolls. Otherwise, however, they are similar in construction and are adj usted in thesame manner.

Between the housings of the feed and delivery rolls are secured the telescopic guides, each consisting of the tube R; secured to the housing of the feed-rolls, and the tubing S, having a tapering end T, secured to the housing of the delivery-rolls. One of these guides is provided for each of the gages formed by the grooves of the rolls.

To the front end of the housing of the feedrolls are secured the bel1-mouth guides U, of steel, one for each gage of t-he rolls.

On the side of the bed-plate and longitudi- -nally thereof is journaled the shaftV in journal-boxes carried by the brackets WV. Spurgears X are keyed on this shaft and mesh with similar gears Y, secured to the ends of the journals of the lower rolls. To the journals on the opposite side of the lower rolls are secured the gears A', meshing-with similar gears attached to thc rolls immediately above. All the gears are of such size and character that the rolls will all be driven at a uniform rate of speed. The peripheral speed, however, of the delivery-rolls will be greater A than that of the feed-rolls, inasmuch as the diameter of the delivery-rolls is greater than that of the'feed-rolls. On the extended end of the journal of one of the delivery-rolls is keyed the fly-wheel B', forming a pulley for the driving-belt. It will be seen by this arrangement of gearing that the relative motions of the rolls will always be the same, and

Y Ythat if one stops all must.

v the knife C' andthe retaining-wedge E'. The

It is iirst placed in position in the groove, and

then the wedge is driven in, securely locking the knife in place. The knife projects a short distance beyond the roll, and is so adjusted that it nearly comes in contact with the lower roll in its revolution.` The clutch WV" for operating the cutting-off rolls consists of aspurgear F', meshing with the gear of the lower of the cutting-off rolls, which is loosely j ournaled on the shaft V. Back of itis splined the friction-wheel G' by the key I-l, turned up at I', to limit the backward play of the said wheel. From the faces of the frictionwvheel and the gear project the lugs T' and U', respectively. Between the spur-gear and the friction-wheel is interposed the coiled spring J', keeping them apart and also keeping the spur-gear in mesh with the gear of the roll.

Attached to the side of the bed-plate is the hanger K', in which is journaled the shaft of the friction-disk L', on the upper surface of which, near its periphery, is journaled the rollerlv projecting beyond the same. Keyed on the shaft V immediately below the friction-disk is the gear N', the slightly-beveled periphery of which engages with the frictiondisk. The gear N is adjustable on the shaft V. J ournaled at both ends in brackets projecting from the sides of the bed-plate is an adjustingscrew O', carrying a nut P', which is provided with a bifurcated arm or collar R', surrounding the grooved sleeve S' of the friction-gear N'. A hand-wheel Q' is provided to rotate the adj listing-screw.

When the shaft V is rotated, the gear N' rotates the friction-disk L', whichl is situated so that as it rotates the friction-rollerM, acting as a cam in its revolution, will intermittently force the wheel G' forward and cause its lug T' to engage with the lug U' of the. spur-gear F', and thereby partly rotate the same, which in turn rotates the cutter-rolls to the same eX- tent. As the friction-gear N is adjusted nearer to or farther from the center of the disk L', the rapidity of the rotation of the cutting-off roll will be increased or diminished.

The operation of the machine is as follows: The end of the wire from the reel W'.is introduced through the bell-mouth guide to the grooves of the desired gage of thc feed-rolls. It then passes from these'rolls through the previously-adjusted telescopic guide to the delivery-rolls. These rolls, having a greater peripheral speed, will have a tendency to draw the wire, which serves to straighten it. The distance between the feed and the deliv ery rolls, which is regulated by the screwA F, has a great eect. The shorter the piece of wire operated on the greater the tension, for the force applied is always the same, and if applied to ashort piece of wire will consequently straighten it more quickly than it would a longer piece.

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The grooves in the different rolls have been may, however, be of one size, and, asxfayasnr practical use is concerned, will act satisfactorily with wire of dierent gages. WVhen a sufficient amount of wire has passed through the machine, the cutting-off rolls are started, and when once adj usted cut the wire in the desired lengths. The number of wires fed to the machine will only be limited by the number of gages formed in the grooves.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for straightening and cutting wire, the bed-plate, the feed-rolls adjustably'mounted on said bed-plate, the deliveryrolls permanently mounted on said plate, the diameter of the delivery-rolls being greater than that of the feed-rolls, and the gear for driving said feed and delivery rolls at the same rate of speed, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a machine for straightening and cutting wire, the combination of the bed-plate, the grooved feed-rolls carried in a housing adj ustablymounted on said bed-plate, the bellmouthed guides carried by said housing, the delivery and cutting-olf rolls carried in a housing permanently mounted on said bedplate, and the telescopic guides secured between said housings, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a machine for straightening and cutting wire, the combination of the bed-plate, the housing adjustably secured to said bedplate, the grooved feed-rolls j ournaled in said housing, the housing permanently secured to the bed-plate, the cutting-o and the grooved delivery rolls j ournaled in said permanently- .secured housing, the upper of the feed, de-

livery, and cutting-off rolls being journaled in vertically-adj ustable boxes sliding between the standards of the housings, the plates seated on offsets of the standards, the cushions between said boxes and plates, and the set-screws impinging on said boxes, substantially as shown and described.

4. In a machine for straightening and cutting wire, the combination of the bed-plate, the housing adjustably secured to said bedplate, the grooved feed-rolls journaled in said housing, the housing permanently secured to the bed-plate, the delivery and cutting-oit rolls journaled in said permanently-secured housing, the upper of the cutting-off rolls being grooved longitudinally, the knife inserted in said groove, the retaining-wedge for securing the knife in position, and the mechanism for operating said cutting-0E rolls, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a machine for straightening and cutting wire, the combination of the bed-plate, the housing adjustably secured to said bedplate, the grooved feed-rolls journaled in said housing, the housing permanently secured to the bed-plate, the delivery and cutting-off rolls mounted in said permanently-secured housing, the shaft carrying spur-gears for driving said rolls, the clutch mounted on said shaft for intermittently driving the cuttingoff rolls, and the friction-gear for operating said clutch, substantially' as and for the purpose specified.

6. In a machine for straightening and cutting wire, the cutting-off rolls, the clutch for intermittently driving said rolls, said clutch consisting of the spur-gear F'7 loosely journaled on the shaft V and meshing with the gear of the lower of the cutting-off rolls, the friction-wheel G', movably splined on said shaft V back of the spur-gear F', said spurgear and friction-wheel having the lugs U' and T', respectively, projecting from their faces, the coiled spring J ,interposed between the said gear and friction wheel, and the means for bringing the two parts of the clutch into engagement, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

7. In a machine for straightening and cutting wire, the combination of the cutting-0E rolls, the shaft V, the spur-gear F', loosely mount-ed on said shaft and meshing with the gear of the lower of the cutting-off rolls, the clutch mechanism for intermittently driving said spur-gear, and the friction-gear for operating'said clutch, consisting of the frictiondisk L', attached to a shaft journaled in the hanger K', the roller M', journaled on said disk, the gear N', movably keyed on the shaft V and contacting with the friction-disk, and the means for adjusting said gear N' with relation to the friction-disk, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

HOMER ECKERSON. Witnesses:

JAS. H. BENsoN, BYRON CAss.

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